RTRS-Putin Offers Ceasefire Talks, US Rejects w/o Ukraine Inclusion

Reuters is reporting that according to its sources in Russia, the suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine made by President Vladimir Putin was rejected by the United States. In reponse, an unnamed US official claims that there had not been any official contact between the two sides, and that the US would not take part in any talks that did not include Ukraine.

• RTRS: "Putin was proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, but the signal offered what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path towards a peace of some kind."
• The story comes hours after the passage of the National Security Supplementary in the Senate that could see USD60bn for Ukraine, if it makes it to President Biden's desk. The talk of ceasefires could give impetus to Trump-aligned Republicans to argue that the bill is not required, and that Russia is willing to halt the war if only Washington would push Kyiv towards negotiations.
• Nevertheless, the comments in the story - even comming from unnamed sources - could indicate a concerted Russian effort to solidify its gains in Ukraine. With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy having recently replaced the head of the armed forces, the Kremlin could see this as a good point to cement the country's occupation of the four Ukrainian oblasts at a time when the Ukrainian leadership is percieved as weakened and key Ukraine allies are vaccilating on further support.